Kugisaki jabbed the vending machine button, taking the can as it plonked down. She shot an annoyed glance at the machine before remarking, "Can't we have more vending machines?"
"No way, not many can enter this school anyway," Fushiguro said.
"Where are the first-year students?" Panda scanned the area, searching for any signs of them.
Maki's response was quick and direct, "I sent them on an errand."
"Bonito flakes."
"Will it be okay?" Panda asked.
"Salmon."
"They are not three-year-old kids. They know how to run errands," Maki said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument.
"That's not what I meant," Panda interjected, his face creased with concern. "Isn't the principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High School coming today?"
"What?"
"The meeting for the Goodwill Event. That abnormal case where the first-year students were dispatched. Wasn't it done by the higher-ups who have a tense relationship with Satoru?" Panda explained. "The principal of Kyoto is part of the higher-ups, right? If they bump into each other…" his voice trailed off, the implication of the situation clear.
"Midoriya, the first-year student they targeted, is dead. They probably don't plan to do anything to Megumi and Kugisaki," Maki deduced. "Even the old man in Kyoto won't cause trouble, at least on the surface."
"Salmon."
"The teachers may have their own standpoints, but not necessarily the students," Panda pointed out.
"Do you mean Mai is here?" Maki asked.
"It's just my guess. After all, the meeting has nothing to do with the students," Panda said. "However… Don't they like to harass people? Todo and Mai."
As Panda's mind raced with the possibilities of what could go wrong, Fushiguro and Kugisaki found themselves standing face to face with two mysterious strangers. Their faces were inscrutable, their intentions unknown.
"Why are you here, Zenin-senpai?" Fushiguro asked.
"Oh, I knew it," recognition dawned on Kugisaki's face as she spoke. "She gives off a similar vibe. Are they sisters?"
"They are twins," Fushiguro replied.
"Gosh, Fushiguro-kun. If you call me that, it will be the same as Maki," she said, shutting one of her eyes in a playful gesture. "Call me "Mai"," she added, her tone light and playful.
The bulky teen with a scar on his face raised his chin, his face menacing.
"These two are the substitutes for Okkotsu and the third-year students?"
With her fingers resting on her chin, Mai spoke up in a cloying voice, "We followed the principal here because we were all worried about you. Your classmate passed away, didn't they? Are you feeling sad about it, or maybe not?"
Fushiguro's eyebrows furrowed and he responded with a serious tone, "What is it that you're trying to say?"
"It's okay. There are some things that are hard to say, so I'll say them on your behalf. The term 'vessel' sounds good, but to put it bluntly, he's just a half-cursed monster, right? Such a dirty and inhuman thing. Yet he calls himself a Jujutsu Sorcerer, like you. He must have made you feel disgusted. Isn't it a good thing that he's dead?" Mai said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Fushiguro's jaw tightened, his face darkening. Kugisaki's eyes also sparked with anger, mirroring his own.
The bulky teen let out a sigh and spoke up, "Mai, can we stop talking about useless stuff? I just want to know if they are good enough to replace Okkotsu. That's all!" He tossed his jacket onto the ground with a careless flick of his wrist and turned to face Fushiguro. "Your name's Fushiguro, right?" he asked, before suddenly yelling, "What kind of woman do you like?!"
Fushiguro and Kugisaki tilted their head in confusion. "Huh?"
"Based on your answer, I might beat you up until you're half dead right here," he threatened while ripping off his shirt to reveal his bulging muscles.
"Okkotsu…" he said slowly, a hint of threat in his voice. "At worst, I'll drag the third-year students to the Goodwill Event." His mouth stretched into a menacing smile. "By the way..." He assumed a fighting stance, ready to spring into action. "I like tall women with big butts!"
"I just met you for the first time today. Why should I tell you about the kind of girl I like?" Fushiguro asked.
"What?"
Kugisaki couldn't resist adding her two cents, pointing a finger at Fushiguro. "Yes, you're making things difficult for this boring man."
Fushiguro scowled. "Shut up. The situation is already weird enough. Stop making it worse."
"I'm Aoi Todo, a third-year student at Kyoto Jujutsu High School. That's all for my self-introduction. We're friends now. Hurry up and answer. It's okay if it's a man. Sexual preferences can reflect one's personality," Aoi Todo, the muscular third-year student, declared.
Todo's eyes blazed with fire as he spoke. "Someone who has boring tastes in women is boring! I hate boring men the most. The Goodwill Event is a special show for me to show my passion and soul. If you make me bored in my last Goodwill Event, I don't know what's going to happen."
Kugisaki chimed in with a question.
"Hey, Jujutsu High School adopt a four-year program, right?"
"You can only participate until your third year," Fushiguro replied.
Kugisaki mused, "I see..."
Todo wasn't done with Fushiguro yet. "As a form of consideration, I can still leave you half dead. Answer me, Fushiguro. What kind of woman do you like?"
Fushiguro said with a hint of exasperation, "What's this? A variety show?"
Kugisaki caught sight of Mai's appearance. The other girl was wearing a black sleeveless dress with a high collar and a daringly long slit on the side. "Is that a summer uniform? I'm annoyed, but I'm jealous."
Meanwhile, Fushiguro was deep in thought, trying to figure out how to handle the situation. 'Kugisaki's unarmed right now. We need to avoid a fight', he thought.
He remembered his sister, Tsumiki's words, "It's not a bad thing to be unable to forgive someone. Isn't that part of your kindness too?"
"I don't have any preferences. As long as she isn't easily swayed, I don't ask for anything else." Fushiguro finally said.
Mai smiled sweetly, showing her approval.
Kugisaki couldn't resist adding her two cents. "That's a good answer. I would kill him if he said he likes big breasts or something."
"Shut up," Fushiguro's lips twitched with annoyance.
Tears flowed from Todo's eyes as he looked at Fushiguro with disappointment. "I knew it. You're so boring, Fushiguro," he declared with empty eyes.
Fushiguro's expression twisted with surprise as he witnessed Todo's sudden outburst. Todo charged towards him, tackling him in a lariat. Fushiguro braced himself for the impact, but he was still sent flying.
"Fushiguro!" Kugisaki yelled with worry, but Mai hugged her from behind, stopping her from running to his aid.
Mai spoke with fake concern in her voice. "Oh, man. I feel so bad for Fushiguro. He's a genius who enrolled as a Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer, and yet he's nothing but a first-year in front of our Grade 1 Todo." She shot a mocking smile before adding, "I should console him later."
"I thought you two are alike, but I was wrong. Maki's a hundred times more beautiful than you," Kugisaki said flatly. "Do you lack sleep? Your pores are huge," she taunted.
Mai's eyes narrowed into slits as she said, "I'll teach you… how to talk nicely." She whipped out a revolver leveling it's muzzle at Kugisaki's middle.
Fushiguro groaned in pain as he slowly got back on his feet.
Todo's steps were slow and deliberate as he advanced toward Fushiguro. "I knew it when I first saw you. "This guy is so boring." However, I can't judge a book by its cover. That's why I asked," he stated, tears still streaming down his face.
"Don't tell me your brain's made of pineapple, too," Fushiguro rebuked, but something clicked in his mind as he registered the name Todo.
'Todo? Is he that Todo?
Last year, Geto started an unprecedented cursed technique terrorist attack. During the Shinjuku-to-Kyoto Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, he exorcised five Grade 1 Cursed Spirits and one Special Grade Cursed Spirit. He's that Todo?
But it's not unusual for a Grade 1 Sorcerer to defeat a Special Grade. What's amazing is that…'
Fushiguro rose to his feet, his eyes trained on Todo. "I heard you don't use cursed techniques."
"What? Oh, that rumor is fake. I used it against a Special Grade," Todo replied nonchalantly.
'You don't use it on Grade 1 Curses? What a monster!' Fushiguro's mind reeled with shock at the revelation. "I'm so relieved!" He exclaimed, clenching his jaw tightly.
Fushiguro stretched out his hands, fingers splayed wide as he mimicked the appearance of wings. Then, with his thumb, index, and middle finger held out in a mirrored position, he began to mutter an incantation.
"Nue plus Gama," he chanted under his breath.
As he spoke, the shadows beneath his feet seemed to come to life and numerous toads with wings rose up from the darkness.
"The Well's Unknown Abyss," Fushiguro called out in a voice of command.
Todo flexed his neck, seemingly unfazed by Fushiguro's display of powers. Meanwhile, Fushiguro quickly analyzed the situation, sizing up his opponent's strength and determining the best course of action.
The opponent focuses on close-range combat. I need to put some distance between us and move in quickly.
Suddenly, Todo materialized behind Fushiguro, moving with such lightning speed that the toads he had created were thrown aside in the process.
'He's quick! That wasn't his full speed'
"You're too shallow," Todo roared, locking his arms around Fushiguro's midsection. "Your physique is thin and your preferences are equally shallow!" He continued with a sneer.
With a swift, fluid motion, he lifted Fushiguro up into the air before slamming him forcefully into the ground in a brutal suplex. The impact resulted in blood flowing from his head.
Todo was already leaping high into the air. Wincing in pain, Fushiguro hastily scrambled to his feet, determined to fight on despite the odds stacked against him. However, it was clear that Todo's speed and strength surpassed his own, and Fushiguro found himself struggling to evade his punches with no time to properly block or counter. He gritted his teeth as Todo landed blow after blow.
'Darn it! He's too strong!'
Todo then grabbed his head with one hand, slamming him to a wooden pillar. Splinters rained down as Todo nailed Fushiguro in place.
"It's not over yet!" Todo yelled. With reckless abandon, he dragged Fushiguro through the pillars of the building, shattering each one as he razed forward.
"It's always the same. This is too boring!" Todo shouted, his fists clenched in anger. He raised his fist for another blow, but before he could strike, elongated tongues shot out from below, coiling around his limbs.
The tongues hauled Todo back, their grip like iron, but he fought back with effortless strength, breaking free in a matter of seconds. "I don't sense any enthusiasm in you," Todo said.
"I was just being nice, and you're acting all high-and-mighty," Fushiguro murmured, his breaths ragged as he struggled to push himself up, blood dripping from his face.
"Since you said that... then I'll do it," he declared, his eyes burning with a fierce determination. His voice was low and dangerous, belying the strength of his conviction.
Todo's eyes widened as a sensation coursed through his body. A wicked grin spread across his face, revealing a row of jagged teeth. "Bring it on!" he growled, his voice oozing with anticipation. He tensed his muscles, ready to strike.
Suddenly, Inumaki appeared at the scene. With practiced motion, he opened his high collar to reveal his hidden mouth. The "Snake and Fangs" seal of the Inumaki clan adorned his tongue and both cheeks.
[Don't move.]
A voice echoed. Todo froze in his tracks, unable to disobey the powerful voice that had taken control of his body.
Panda soared through the air, his huge frame powering him forward with incredible force. With a fierce battle cry, he landed a punch on Todo, pushing him back. "What are you doing?!" he shouted.
Panda exhaled, "Whew! We barely made it," he muttered under his breath.
Inumaki zipped up his collar, as he muttered, "Bonito flakes."
"But to be honest, I was late," Panda admitted.
Todo spat out the blood in his mouth. "Long time no see, Panda," he said.
"Why couldn't you wait until the Goodwill Event?" Panda demanded, "Go back, or I'll scream, "Don't" He said, mimicking a damsel in distress, adding a comical flourish to his empty threat.
"No need to tell me," Todo replied, a wry smirk crossing his face. "I'm going back. Where's my shirt?" He scanned the area, searching for his misplaced clothing. "Seems like it won't be that boring the entire time," he commented cryptically, eyeing his opponents with amusement.
"What?"
Todo's expression grew more serious as he spoke. "Tell Okkotsu that he has to attend the event as well."
'It's troublesome.' Panda thought.
"I'm a panda. I don't understand human language."
"Salmon."
On the other side, Mai loaded another bullet, clicking it into place. She held her revolver steady, pointing it at Kugisaki's motionless form.
"If you still want to be a Jujutsu Sorcerer, you should learn to pick your opponent," Mai said, letting out a light chuckle.
A polearm appeared, nudging her revolver. "What are you doing to my gofer, Mai?" Maki asked with a stern face.
"Oh, my. You look so much like a loser that I didn't realize it was you, Maki," Mai taunted.
"The same goes for you. You also only know how to inject cursed energy into tools. As if you know crap about cursed techniques."
"It's better than having no cursed energy at all. Your neck will feel sore if you always look up. Sometimes, you need to look down too."
Maki let out a dismissive snort, her eyes narrowing in contempt. "Hah. Forget it. It's a disgrace to be arguing among losers," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She turned her attention to Kugisaki, who lay sprawled on the ground. "Can you stand, Nobara?"
Mai grinned, a look of satisfaction spreading across her face. "No way. She's not getting up for a while," she said, her voice smug. "I taught her a lesson─"
Maki pointed the polearm at Mai's face. "What's this? Are you going to fight?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous.
Behind Maki, Kugisaki suddenly sprang up. She locked Maki in a chokehold, an evil smile on her face. "Nice support, Maki-san!"
Kugisaki tightened her chokehold. "How dare you open so many holes in the sportswear I just bought! Give me your uniform. I'll make that my summer uniform!"
Mai's voice emerged in a bitter whisper through the chokehold, her words laced with venom. "Next time, I'll add a few more holes to your body," she seethed. "Besides, you can't wear it with your short legs─"
The grip around Maki's throat tightened, cutting off her words. The intensity in Kugisaki's eyes shifted, fueled by a surge of anger. "I'm killing you!" she declared, her voice filled with rage.
Just as the tension reached its peak, Todo materialized and broke the escalating confrontation. "Let's go back, Mai," he interjected calmly.
Kugisaki's eyes widened in surprise. "No way..."
Todo's attention shifted to his jacket. "My jacket's here," he said.
Kugisaki rose from her position on the ground. "Where's Fushiguro?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Maki reassured her, her tone steady. "Don't worry. Panda and Inumaki went to help him," she replied.
Todo chimed in casually, his eyes scanning the scene. "Looks like fun here," he remarked.
Mai gritted her teeth in frustration, grappling with her anger. "Are you serious? I'm just getting started," she growled, her finger tightening around her revolver.
Todo's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, his tone dismissive. "You can't. Unlike you, I have something important to do in Tokyo," he said, pulling out the tickets from his pockets. "There's an individual handshake event with Takada!"
"Heh..." The girls were left dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events.
Todo picked up his jacket. "If I can't get to the venue in time, there's no telling what I'm going to do. Come with me, Mai!" he urged, his tone insistent.
Mai followed him in exasperation. "Gosh! What a selfish person!" she muttered under her breath, her annoyance palpable.
Todo's voice faded into the distance as he walked away, muttering to himself. "To think that she skipped the usual Kyoto for her tour."
Mai turned back, adding one final remark. "Listen, it won't end so easily during the Goodwill Event," she said firmly, before following Todo out of sight.
Kugisaki was left seething with anger, her frustration boiling over. "Why are you acting like you won?" she yelled after them. "Leave your uniform behind!"
Maki intervened, bringing Kugisaki back to reality with a bonk on the head from her polearm. "Stop it, you fool," she chided. "It brings no benefit to win or lose here. We'll finish them at the Goodwill Event."
"Hey, Maki-san. Is it true that you have no cursed energy?" Kugisaki asked.
"Yes," Maki responded matter-of-factly. "That's why… Without these glasses, I can't even see curses," she said, removing them to demonstrate. "What I use is called a Cursed Tool. It's a tool that's imbued with a curse. Unlike you guys, I don't use my own cursed energy to use sorcery and techniques," she explained.
'Is it the same as Izuku's knife and his shoes?' Kugisaki wondered.
"Then why did you become a Jujutsu Sorcerer?" Kugisaki asked.
Maki's answer was tinged with a sense of rebellion. "I acted in a fit of pique. If I, who have been looked down upon, become a great Jujutsu Sorcerer, I wonder how my family members would react? I can't wait to see that," she said, a note of mirth in her voice.
Kugisaki's eyes shone with admiration and respect for Maki's bold declaration.
"Come on. Let's go to Shoko-san," Maki urged her.
Kugisaki ran to her, leaning closer. "I respect you very much, Maki-san!" she exclaimed in a cheerful voice.
"Oh, really?"
"Is Yaga still not here?" Gakuganji asked. "As an old man with my days numbered, my time is precious."
The door slid open and Gojo sauntered in. "Principal Yaga won't be coming for a while."
"Ho?"
Gojo sat down opposite him. He leaned back, his arms loosely draped over the back of the sofa. "Since I gave him a fake meeting time," he admitted casually, adding in his head, ...by threatening Ijichi.
With a sarcastic tone, Gojo said, "I've been under your care, Principal Gakuganji."
Gakuganji stroked his long white beard thoughtfully before responding, "Let's see. What do you mean by that?"
"Don't act dumb, old man," Gojo said leaning forward. "It's about Midoriya. You're involved in it since you are the head of the conservative, right?"
"Dear me. Youngsters nowadays can't even speak with respect?" Gakuganji lamented.
"I don't intend to respect you from the beginning. Old people nowadays are too arrogant, it's really a pain in the butt."
The girl positioned near the doorway couldn't resist speaking up, "Hey."
"Hm?"
"This is problematic behavior. We'll report it to the relevant department," she reprimanded, though she was actually bubbling with excitement inside. 'Oh, my goodness! It's Satoru Gojo in person!'
"Please help yourself. I don't intend to stay for long," Gojo retorted with nonchalance, disregarding her warnings.
Despite keeping a scowl on her face, in her head, the girl couldn't help but squeal, 'He talked to me! He talked to me!'
Gojo's tone turned serious as he said, "Last night, I was attacked by two unregistered Special Grade Cursed Spirits."
"Ho? That's unfortunate," Gakuganji replied.
"Don't be mistaken. To me, it's almost like the usual street interview," Gojo said matter-of-factly.
'He's so cool!' The girl simmered inside.
"Those Cursed Spirits can communicate. They must have comrades of the same level," Gojo continued. "It's not just our enemies. Hakari, Okkotsu, and your Todo. In recent years, the level of students has also improved by leaps and bounds."
"Also, we had the Geto Suguru incident last year." His thoughts shifted to the aforementioned man, Geto's manic smile and the tower of cursed spirits behind him. "And now, the appearance of Sukuna's vessel," he added.
"What are you trying to say?" Gakuganji asked.
Gojo chuckled, "Don't you get it? The power you suppressed for lame status and tradition has begun to grow and surge. "Special Grade" will no longer be the ceiling for the future generation."
"If you think I'm the only one who will bare my fangs at you, then you're in for a ride, old man," he added with a toothy grin.
"You're talking a little too much," Gakuganji warned, his voice low.
"So frightening," Gojo said with mirth in his voice. "I've said everything that I wanted. I should leave now."
As Gojo turned to leave, he suddenly remembered something and swung back around, waving his hand. "By the way, Principal Yaga will be here in two hours. Bye!"
'Two hours?!' The girl exclaimed internally.
Gakuganji let out a heavy sigh as Gojo left the room. He turned to the girl standing by the door and spoke in a low voice, "Go get me some tea, Miwa."
"Yes, sir," she replied with practiced professionalism. Turning on her heel, she carefully opened the door and said, "Please excuse me."
Once out in the hallway, Miwa couldn't contain her excitement. "If I catch up to him, I'm going to ask for a photo!"
Takada's individual handshake event.
As Todo held the hands of his idol, he asked with a blush, "Please do the Takada beam once."
Takada's smile didn't falter as she held out her hand for a handshake. "Okay, I'll do it now," she said with a bright smile.
Excitement coursed through Todo as he watched Takada make a peace pose and send a wink to the crowd. The men in the audience couldn't help but swoon at her irresistible charm. She finished the pose with her signature catchphrase, "Tantaka-tan!"
Todo grinned from ear to ear as his time with Takada came to a close.
"Time's up," a staff member announced, leading him away.
[ONE MONTH LATER]
[RECORD - SEPTEMBER XXXX]
[KINEMA CINEMA, KAWASAKI, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE]
[After the movie screening, a staff discovered three peculiar bodies of high-school students.]
[Cause of death: Increased intracranial pressure and respiration paralysis as a result of head deformation.]
Mahito walked down the back alley when he heard someone calling out from behind him.
"Excuse me," a teenage voice called out. "The incident in the cinema...did you do it?"
Mahito turned to face the teen, a sly smile on his lips. "Wow," he said with amusement. "So, you can see me,"
Under the pouring rain, two figures stood in front of the cinema, each holding an umbrella to fend off the downpour. The first was a boy wearing a gakuran with a red hood, while the other was a man dressed in a sharp business suit.
As they stood outside the cinema, the man adjusted his glasses and turned to the boy. "It's a horrifying crime scene. Are you prepared, Midoriya?" he asked.
Izuku Midoriya looked at the entrance of the cinema with unwavering resolve, his eyes narrowing as he replied, "Yes...I'm prepared"
With their determination set, they stepped into the cinema.
'Ooooohhh look at you all mysterious...why is that?'
'...you should know...because of what happened a few days ago'
'...you know that wasn't your fault...right?'
'...I know...but...she doesn't see it that way'
Izuku finished his thought with Sukuna as he could still see the look of hurt from the one person he barely knows...his own blood relative...his own sister.
'I'm sorry...Mizuki'